MANILA, Philippines — The P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025 has reached the Senate floor, signaling the impending commencement of marathon plenary deliberations for the said allocation.
Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate’s panel on finance, stood in the chamber’s plenary hall during Tuesday’s session to endorse and sponsor House Bill No. 10800 which contains the 2025 General Appropriations Bill.
In her speech, Poe enumerated the significant priorities in the national funding for next year, identifying these as social services, health, education, jobs, technology, and infrastructure and human development.
“This budget isn’t just a series of numbers. It’s a blueprint of our priorities, the most important investment of our government, and the heartbeat of our nation’s future,” she said.
In terms of health, Poe said the proposed appropriations have augmented the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program Fund to ensure that over 700 rural health units, 300 local government units and DOH hospitals, and other clinics are constructed and equipped with the necessary medical supplies and facilities nationwide.
“Health starts in the womb. To effectively address malnutrition and stunting, we have to put money where our mouths are,” Poe said.
Increase in funding
She likewise noted the increase in funding for the DOH’s First 1,000 Days Program as well as the National Nutrition Council that will benefit 19,900 nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women, 39,000 youth with severe malnutrition, and 133,000 other children.
As for education, Poe said the committee on finance ensured that the P9.9 billion budget for teaching materials of public school teachers.
The same goes with social protection, the senator explained. She said apart from the regular beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the budget ensured that those who are pregnant and with children of up to two years old will be given assistance of P350 a day to encourage them to undergo check-up, get vaccinated and eat nutritious meals.
“Food programs like the Food Stamps across the country will also get funding. Other social protection programs will also be retained like the four million indigent senior citizens who will get a P1,000 monthly pension,” she said.
Meanwhile, in terms of employment and livelihood, Poe said a total of 194,804 beneficiaries under the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be given seed capital to start business or undergo skills training for employment.
Technology was also given highlight during Poe’s speech, with her vouching for the Senate’s full support for the “efficient and responsible use of modern technology, especially in fighting crimes and ensuring the speedy dispensation of justice.”
“As a testament to this, we will support the utilization of Artificial Intelligence in the examination of suspicious transactions by the Anti-Money Laundering Council and in the court transcriptions, legal research, and case management of the Judiciary,” she said.
Adopt the House’ recommendation
In a separate text message to reporters also on Tuesday, Poe confirmed to reporters that the Senate panel on finance has opted to adopt the House of Representatives’ recommendation to slash by P1.3 billion the proposed 2025 funding of the Office of the Vice President.
“Yes. We reached out several times to the Office of the Vice President requesting them to submit documents to clarify issues regarding their budget, but they have not submitted as of today,” Poe told reporters on Tuesday.
“So, we decided to retain the GAB amount pending submission and review of these documents,” she added.
READ: Senate retains OVP’s proposed P733-M budget
Lengthy plenary deliberations are set to commence on Wednesday, as earlier confirmed by Senate President Francis Escudero.
A copy of the plenary debate schedule shared by the upper chamber to the media showed that the discussions would start with general principles and scrutinization of the proposed funding of the Department of Budget and Management.
Meanwhile, Escudero said they need to transmit the consolidated measure on the 2025 funding to the Palace for the President’s approval before the Senate again goes on break.
“Sa inaasahan namin maaprubahan ang (We expect the approval of the) budget at the latest the second week of December, at the earliest first week of December,” he told reporters.
The proposed 2025 national budget is 10.1 percent higher than the current national budget of P5.768 trillion, as projected earlier by the Department of Budget and Management.